Rpbcw Plant List 01 11 2017

Introduction

Plant Selection The key to selecting plant species for your rainwater garden or other stormwater feature is to ﬁrst closely examine the growing conditions of the area to be planted, and then selecting plants that grow best under those conditions. Choosing the right plant for the right place reduces the amount of maintenance because thriving plants will better out-compete weeds.

Start your plant selection process by assessing the area you are to plant. Examine the light levels, soil types, and moisture levels throughout the area you are to plant. These will vary at different parts of the garden. In rainwater gardens two different growing conditions typically exist: the bottom of the basin where the soils get saturated after storm events, and the upper reaches that are above the flood line. But even more conditions may exist if part of the garden is shaded. Next, search the plant list to select plants that will grow well under the growing conditions of your garden.

Highest Extent of Flooding

Dry Rainwater Garden Medium Soil Moisture

Planting Design for Low Maintenance Wet

Low maintenance is often a need for property owners. Below are a few tips on how to plan a planting for reduced maintenance. Please understand that reduced maintenance does not mean no maintenance. Every rainwater garden requires weeding once a month during the growing season. Select species that do not produce seed. These are typically native cultivars or horticultural (non-native) perennials.

Select species that do not spread via roots or runners (quick-spreading plants are labeled as aggressive in the list below).

Select a limited number species for the garden and plant them in large groups of 10 – 20, or more. It is manageable to weed simple plantings because identifying weeds is easier within a grouping of one species.

Select the right plant for the right place. Match the plant tolerances to the growing conditions of your garden.

www.rpbcwd.org Introduction

Site Preparation Adapted from the book: Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality by author Fred Rozumalski Reprinted with Permission; Carrol Henderson, MN DNR

The primary goal in preparing a planting bed for a rainwater garden, buﬀer zone or shoreline planting is to eliminate all previous vegetation that could become a weed in the new planting. The deﬁnition of a weed is – a plant out of place. Therefore, turf grass can be a weed in native plantings, and native plants a weed in turf. Save future maintenance work by thoroughly eliminating weeds before planting.

Eliminating Invasive Weeds The removal of problem species like reed canary grass, purple loosestrife, crown vetch and common buckthorn, takes time and requires persistence. Plan for the eradication to take an entire growing season before beginning to plant. Consult with the MN DNR for techniques on how to eradicate invasive species. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/- terrestrialplants/index.html

Eliminating Turf Clearing sod is necessary to create an attractive planting and to minimize weeding in the future. Remnant lawn grasses tangling through a native planting are unattractive, reduce native plant vigor through competition, and are very diﬃcult to weed out. Three methods of turf removal are discussed here.

The ﬁrst method of turf removal is to directly remove sod with a gas-powered sod cutter. This method avoids the use of herbicides but is labor intensive and can result in soil erosion if exposed soils are not quickly planted and covered with straw or erosion control blanket. When cutting sod, the blade sould be set deep to reach all grass roots ( about one half inch). Any sod or root fragments left behind may regenerate and become unattractive weeds in the planting. Cut sod should be either composted on-site or reused to patch open soil areas in the lawn. Most landﬁll and com- posting sites do not take sod. A drawback to sod removal is that it opens the soil, making it susceptible to erosion. An erosion-control blanket or mulch must be put down immediately after sod is stripped.

The use of heavy equipment such as a bobcat to strip sod damages the soil and is not recommended. Large machines compact soil and can break the structure of lake and stream banks. Once soil is compacted, plants have diﬃculty establishing because of the lack of air in the soil; plant roots require oxygen to survive.

A second method of turf removal avoids the heavy work of removing sod but requires an entire growing season to be eﬀective. Smother lawn grasses with black polyethylene plastic, old carpet, show curtains or layers of newspaper or cardboard. Stake your material of choice to the ground over the sod, and leave it in place for one entire growing season (ﬁve to six months). It takes this long to smother the robust roots of grass plants. After this period you can plant directly through the dead sod. If planting seed it is important to till the dead sod before spreading the seed.

www.rpbcwd.org Introduction

(Eliminating Turf) The quickest and most cost-effective method to eradicate sod is application of an herbicide. Unfortunately organic herbicides only burn off the above-ground vegetation and leave the root systems in tact to sprout and grow again. Chemical based herbicides such as Roundup TM are very effective in eliminating turf. In situations where herbicide can come in contact with water, Rodeo TM should be used. Rodeo has the same active ingredient as Roundup, but is nontoxic to fish. Any herbicide application to aquatic or shoreline plants must be accompanied by a permit from the MN DNR.

Take care in spraying. These herbicides kill any plant with which they come in contact. After spraying any of these herbicides it takes 10 to 14 days for sod to die. At that time the sod will become yellow. Where green areas remain after this waiting period spot spray at least two days before planting to completely eradicate any surviving turf. Anoth- er advantage to using herbicide is that the dead sod can be left in place. Leaving it in place prevents soil erosion, leaves valuable organic material on the soil, and saves the labor of hauling it away to be composted. When you are ready to plant, install live plants directly through the dead sod. Be sure that the roots are buried in soil and not in the thatch of dead lawn where the plant would quickly dry out and die. If you plan to seed native plants, however, you must till the dead sod and soil before seeding.

Soil Preparation Beyond eliminating sod or invasive plants, no soil preparation is required for the installation of native plants. Appropri- ately selected native plants will thrive in the soil condition that exists on the site. The incorporation of soil amendments such as black dirt, compost, manure or fertilizer are not necessary and, in fact, would be detrimental to the success of the native planting. Amendments that enrich the soil favor weed growth and cause plants to grow fast and then ﬂop over. The exception to this rule is shady woodland plantings and rainwater gardens planted with non-native perennials; these beneﬁt from the addition of 3-6 inches of compost or manure.

Before you disturb the ground for planting make sure you will be able to obtain the plants you have selected. Open soil can easily erode. It is best to prepare the site after you have arranged with a nursery to purchase plants. For large projects contract with a nursery a year in advance to have them grow the plants you require.

To prevent bank erosion never till below the normal high-water line of the lake or stream, or any closer than 15 feet away from the shoreline. If you will be planting seed above the high-water line, light tilling (approximately 2 inches deep) is necessary to provide a good seed bed, but you must take strong measure to control erosion.

www.rpbcwd.org Rainwater Garden Master List Flowering Perennials The plants in this list have been approved for use in rainwater garden, bioswale, and other stormwater projects funded by Riley Purgatory Bluﬀ Creek Watershed District cost-share grants. The list includes information to help you chose the right plants for your project by describing plant preferences like sun and moisture needs. Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

Many nice cultivars are available such as 'Moonshine, 'Summer Pastels', 'Paprika', 'Cerise Queen', 'Terracotta', 'Apricot Delight'...and the list goes on. There are now well over 30 named 9 Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium ( 9 cultivars of yarrow, which extend the colour range from white, pink, red, orange, yellow and innumerable shades in between. The native form can spread aggressively.

Best sited in locations sheltered Black cohosh Actaea racemosa < ! 9 from strong winds. Blue fortune hyssop Agastache 'Blue Fortune' ( < 9 9 Long bloom time Fragrant giant hyssop Agastache foeniculum ( < 9 9 Native; Seeds aggressively Lady's Mantle Alchemilla mollis ( < 9 Beautiful foliage, non-invasive Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil. Plants will naturalize by self-seeding and bulb Prairie Wild Onion Allium stellatum ( < 9 9 oﬀsets in optimum growing conditions. Deadhead ﬂowers before seed set to help control any unwanted spread. Does well in full sun, primaraly found Nodding Onion ( < 9 9 Allium cernuum in rocky soils Leadplant Amorpha canescens ( 9 Great for hot, sunny places Amsonia 'Blue Ice' Amsonia 'Blue Ice' ( < 9 9 Beautiful foliage, nice early bloom Blue star Amsonia hubrichtii ( < 9 9 Beautiful fall color Native to wetland edge in Missouri, Willow Amsonia Amsonia tabernaemontana ( < 9 9 produces seed Spreads aggressively via rhizome, Canada anemone Anemone canadensis ( < 9 9 great ground cover in rain gardens Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis ( < ! 9 9 Native woodland plant; Seeds freely

Artemisia ludoviciana This cultivar does not spread Sage 'Valerie Finnis' ( 9 9 'Valerie Finnis' aggressively. The native form does! Attracts many native bees when in Aruncus 'Misty Lace' Aruncus 'Misty Lace' ( < 9 9 9 flower. Many other nice cultivars. Deer tolerant. Forms a dense Wild ginger Asarum canadensis < ! 9 ground cover. Marsh milkweed Asclepias incarnata ( < 9 9 Monarch food source; Seeds freely Difficult to establish; must have well Butterfly flower Asclepias tuberosa ( 9 drained soil

* Ideal exposure: Full Sun = > 6 hours of daily sunlight, Partial Sun = 3-6 hours of daily sunlight, Shade = < 3 hours of daily sunlight *** Soil moisture: Wet = excessively wet in spring and after rain events, Medium = average garden soil, Dry = excessively well drained

*** Pollinator = Here refers to plants that are pollinated by insects or birds.

www.rpbcwd.org 1 Rainwater Garden Master List Flowering Perennials The plants in this list have been approved for use in rainwater garden, bioswale, and other stormwater projects funded by Riley Purgatory Bluﬀ Creek Watershed District cost-share grants. The list includes information to help you chose the right plants for your project by describing plant preferences like sun and moisture needs. Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

Spreads by rhizome, expands to a Whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata ( < 9 9 nice patch

Deer tolerant. Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in Astilbe species Astilbe species < ! 9 part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, humusy, organically rich soils. Soils must not be allowed to dry out.

Lady fern Athyrium ﬁlix-femina < ! 9 Rabbit resistant Athyrium niponicum var. Japanese Painted Fern < ! 9 Tough dry shade plant, many good Best sited in locations sheltered pictum cultivars from strong winds. Northern lady fern Athyrium ﬁlix-femina var. < ! 9 Tolerates drier soils than many other 'Lady in Red' angustum 'Lady in Red' ferns, beautiful red stems

White wild indigo Baptisia alba ( < 9 9 Beautiful, tall white flowers Blue Wild Indigo Baptisia australis ( < 9 9 Large - becomes shrub-like Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil. Plants will Great pollinator food source. Avoid Calamint ‘White Cloud’ Calamintha nepeta subsp. ( < 9 9 naturalize by self-seeding and bulb Nepeta other species of calamint. offsets in optimum growing Campanula rotundifolia ( < 9 9 conditions. Deadhead flowers before Harebell May be short lived, but seeds around seed set to help control any Pink Turtlehead 'Hot Lips' Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips' ( < ! 9 Beautiful rain garden plant. Tolerates unwanted spread. 9 shade Primary species of Baltimore Checker Turtlehead Chelone glabra ( < 9 9 spot butterfly

Beautiful foliage, nice early bloom

Spreads aggressively via rhizome, great ground cover in rain gardens Native woodland plant; Seeds freely

This cultivar does not spread Pink Turtlehead (Chelone llyonii) aggressively. The native form does! Attracts many native bees when in ﬂower. Many other nice cultivars.

Monarch food source; Seeds freely Calamint ‘White Cloud’ (Calamintha nepeta subsp. Nepeta) Hosta Cultivars (Hosta spp.) Purple Prarie Cover (Dalea purpurea)

* Ideal exposure: Full Sun = > 6 hours of daily sunlight, Partial Sun = 3-6 hours of daily sunlight, Shade = < 3 hours of daily sunlight ** Soil moisture: Wet = excessively wet in spring and after rain events, Medium = average garden soil, Dry = excessively well drained

*** Pollinator = Here refers to plants that are pollinated by insects or birds.

www.rpbcwd.org 2 Rainwater Garden Master List Flowering Perennials The plants in this list have been approved for use in rainwater garden, bioswale, and other stormwater projects funded by Riley Purgatory Bluﬀ Creek Watershed District cost-share grants. The list includes information to help you chose the right plants for your project by describing plant preferences like sun and moisture needs. Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

Tolerates deer. Thrives in poor, sandy or rocky soils with good drainage. ( < 9 9 Prairie Coreopsis Coreopsis palmata Tolerant of heat, humidity and drought. Deer tolerant. Easily grown in average, Spreads aggressively medium moisture, well-drained soils in Purple prairie clover Dalea purpurea ( 9 9 Seeds nicely in native plant gardens part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, humusy, organically rich soils. Soils Pale purple coneﬂower Echinacea angustifolia ( < 9 9 Tolerates deer, heat and clay soils must not be allowed to dry out. Tolerates deer, heat and clay soils, Purple coneﬂower Echinacea purpurea ( < 9 9 seeds freely

Great for dry shade; seeds freely, Globe thistle Echinops ritro ( < ! 9 9 attracts many bees

There are many great species and Epimedium Cultivars Epimedium spp. < ! 9 9 cultivars of Epimedium

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Prefers Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium ( 9 dryish, sandy soils. Plants tend to open up and sprawl if grown in overly fertile soils or in anything less than full sun

May be short lived, but seeds around Great for the bottom of rain gardens. The native form seeds freely. Desirable Joe-Pye weed Eupatorium maculatum ( < 9 9 cultivars include 'Gateway', Phantom', and 'Little Joe' Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum ( < 9 9 Needs constant moisture Big Leaf Aster Eurybia macrophylla ( < ! 9 9 Forms a beautiful shade groundcover White wood aster Eurybia divaricata < ! 9 9 Robust shade plant; a favorite Big Root Geranium Geranium Macrorrhizum ( < ! 9 9 Forms a beautiful shade groundcover Wild geranium Geranium maculatum ( < ! 9 9 Spreads nicely by rhizome Geranium x cantabrigiense Geranium 'Biokovo' ( < ! 9 9 Does well in dry shade Biokovo

Tolerates deer and clay soil. Many Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale ( 9 9 nice cultivars

Many good cultivars such as: Daylily Cultivars Hemerocallis spp. ( < 9 9 ‘Strawberry Candy’; ‘Chicago Apache’; Charles Johnson; ‘Prester John’

Many good cultivars such as: ‘Royal Hosta Cultivars Hosta spp. < ! 9 9 Standard’; ‘Atlantis’; ‘Gold Standard’ Siberian iris Iris siberica ( < 9 9 Thick roots penetrate the soil deeply Wild iris Iris versicolor ( < 9 9 Must have evenly moist soil Tall Bearded Iris Iris germanica ( 9 9 Deer tolerant

*** Pollinator = Here refers to plants that are pollinated by insects or birds.

www.rpbcwd.org 3 Rainwater Garden Master List Flowering Perennials The plants in this list have been approved for use in rainwater garden, bioswale, and other stormwater projects funded by Riley Purgatory Bluﬀ Creek Watershed District cost-share grants. The list includes information to help you chose the right plants for your project by describing plant preferences like sun and moisture needs. Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

Tolerates deer. Thrives in poor, sandy Hylotelephium Many good species of Sedum are Sedum 'Autumn Joy' ( < 9 9 or rocky soils with good drainage. 'Herbstfreude' (‘Autumn Joy') available Tolerant of heat, humidity and drought. ( < 9 Spreads aggressively Cast-Iron Plant Kalimeris incisa Long bloom time Showy; Tolerates rabbits and heavy Seeds nicely in native plant gardens Bleeding Heart Lamprocapnos spectabilis < ! 9 shade; Seeds around nicely Tolerates deer, heat and clay soils Blazing star Liatris aspera ( 9 9 Great monarch food source Meadow blazing star Liatris ligulistylis ( < 9 9 Great monarch food source Prairie blazing star Liatris pycnostachya ( 9 9 Great monarch food source Easily grown in average, well-drained soils in full sun. Somewhat tolerant of poor soils, but prefers moist, fertile soils and generally performs better in moist Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata ( 9 9 soils than most other species of Liatris. Intolerant of wet soils in winter. Tolerant of summer heat and humidity. 'Kobold' is a desirable cultivar

Ligularia dentata Leopard Plant < ! 9 Tends to wilt in dry conditions 'Desdemona' 9 Attracts hummingbirds. Easily grown in rich, humusy, medium to wet soils in Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis ( < ! 9 9 full sun to part shade. Needs constant moisture. Many other nice cultivars

( < ! 9 Tolerates deer and heavy shade, Great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica 9 beautiful late season bloom

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

*** Pollinator = Here refers to plants that are pollinated by insects or birds.

www.rpbcwd.org 4 Rainwater Garden Master List Flowering Perennials The plants in this list have been approved for use in rainwater garden, bioswale, and other stormwater projects funded by Riley Purgatory Bluﬀ Creek Watershed District cost-share grants. The list includes information to help you chose the right plants for your project by describing plant preferences like sun and moisture needs. Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

Solomon's Plume Maianthemum racemosum < ! 9 9 Showy, fragrant Starry Solomon's Plume Maianthemum stellatum < ! 9 9 Grows to from a beautiful mass Aggressive spreader, great for the Ostrich fern Matteuccia struthiopteris < ! 9 9 bottom of a shaded rain garden Wild bergamot Monarda ﬁstulosa ( < 9 9 Many more cultivars Nepeta x faassenii Long blooming, Tolerates deer, drought Walker's Low Catmint ( < 9 9 'Walkers Low" and air pollution Rabbit tolerant, tolerates heavy shade Sensitive Fern Onoclea sensibilis < ! 9 9 and clay soil. Requires consistant moisture. Easily grown in medium to wet soils in Osmundastrum Cinnamon Fern < ! 9 part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, cinnamomeum 9 rich, humusy, acidic soils, but adapts to lesser conditions Golden ragwort Packera aureus ( < ! 9 9 Use as a ground cover; Naturalizes Peony species Paeonia spp. ( < 9 9 Many nice cultivars available Rabbit and Deer resistant, tolerates clay soil and air pollution. Has been Russian Sage Perovskia atriplicifolia ( 9 9 known to spread aggressively in some situations

Long blooming white phlox. Many nice Garden Phlox Phlox paniculata ( < 9 9 cultivars, can seed around. Prairie phlox Phlox pilosa ( < 9 9 Rabbit preferred food Best grown in moist, humusy, well- drained soil in part shade. Freely self- Jacob's Ladder Polemonium reptans ( < 9 seeds in optimum growing conditions, but not aggressively

Solomon's seal Polygonatum biﬂorum < ! 9 9 Tough shade plant Variegated Japanese Polygonatum odoratum < ! 9 9 Bearutiful, tough shade perennial Solomon's seal var. pluriﬂorum Variegatum Best grown in organically rich, dry to Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides < ! 9 medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade

Yellow coneﬂower Ratibida pinnata ( 9 9 Tolerates drought and clay soil Rhubarb Rheum rhabarbarum ( < 9 9 Makes great pie! Goldsturm Black-Eyed Rudbeckia fulgida ( 9 9 Tolerates deer, drought and clay soil Susan 'Goldsturm' Easily grown in average, medium, well- drained soils in full sun to part shade. Rudbeckia hirta 9 Sweet Black-Eyed Susan ( < 9 9 Tolerates hot and humid summers but not drought

*** Pollinator = Here refers to plants that are pollinated by insects or birds.

www.rpbcwd.org 5 Rainwater Garden Master List Flowering Perennials The plants in this list have been approved for use in rainwater garden, bioswale, and other stormwater projects funded by Riley Purgatory Bluﬀ Creek Watershed District cost-share grants. The list includes information to help you chose the right plants for your project by describing plant preferences like sun and moisture needs. Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

Salvia nemorosa Tolerates deer, drought, and air Salvia 'Caradonna' ( 9 'Caradonna' pollution; many other nice cultivars

Salvia x sylvestris 'May Meadow sage 'May Night' ( 9 Tolerates deer, drough and dry soil Night' Gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis ( < 9 9 Great in sandy soils Riddell's goldenrod Solidago riddellii ( 9 9 Tolerates deer, clay and wet soil Late blooming, tolerates deer, clay and Goldenrod 'Fireworks' Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' ( 9 9 wet soils Showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa ( 9 9 Best in sandy soil Solidago sphacelata Tolerates deer, drought, erosion and Goldenrod 'Golden Fleece' ( 9 9 'Golden Fleece' clay soil. Slowly spreads via rhizome Lamb's ear 'Big Ears' Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears' ( < 9 9 Great foliage texture Symphyotrichum ericoides Heath Aster 'Blue Star' ( 9 Drought tolerant, beautiful fall flowers 'Blue Star' Smooth aster Symphyotrichum laeve ( < 9 9 Beautiful blue flowers Grows in rocky and sandy soils such as Symphyotrichum those found in prairies and bluffs as 9 Aromatic aster oblongifolium ( < 9 well as in moist woodland habitats. "October Skies' is a nice cultivar along with many others Seeds freely, wonderful purple flowers. Symphyotrichum New England aster ( 9 The cultivar 'purple dome' is a good novae-angliae 9 cultivar and does not produce seed

Symphyotrichum Tolerates a wide range of soils, showy Sky blue aster ( < 9 9 oolentangiense ﬂower

Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pychnostcya) Daylily cultivars (Hemerocallis spp.) Siberian iris (Iris siberica)

*** Pollinator = Here refers to plants that are pollinated by insects or birds.

www.rpbcwd.org 6 Rainwater Garden Master List Flowering Perennials The plants in this list have been approved for use in rainwater garden, bioswale, and other stormwater projects funded by Riley Purgatory Bluﬀ Creek Watershed District cost-share grants. The list includes information to help you chose the right plants for your project by describing plant preferences like sun and moisture needs. Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

Tall meadow rue Thalictrum dasycarpum ( < 9 9 Showy, seeds freely Prairie spiderwort Tradescantia bracteata ( < 9 9 Goes dormant in late summer Blue vervain Verbena hastata ( 9 9 Seeds aggresively Showy, drought tolerant. Seeds Hoary vervain Verbena stricta ( < 9 9 aggressively. Easily grown in average, medium to wet Prairie Ironweed Vernonia fasciculata ( 9 9 soils in full sun. Although it is mostly seen growing in the wild in moist soils Tolerates wet soil, ﬂops if grown in too Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum ( < 9 9 much shade

Barren strawberry Waldsteinia fragarioides ( < 9 9 Shade groundcover. Seeds aggressively Golden alexander Zizia aurea ( < 9 9 9 Seeds aggressively

Rainwater Garden Master List Grasses and Grass-Like Plants

Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

Deer resistant. Spreads aggressively by Big Bluestem Andropogon geradii ( 9 9 seed Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture soils in full sun. Tolerates wide Bouteloua curtipendula ( 9 9 Sideoats Grama range of soil conditions from well- drained sandy soils to heavy clays Feather Reed Grass ‘Karl Calamagrostis × acutiﬂora ( < 9 9 Great winter interest Foerster’ ‘Karl Foerster’ 9 Fall Blooming Reed Grass Calamagrostis brachytricha ( 9 9 Tolerates black walnuts and air pollution Blue Zinger Glaucous Very robust plant; Forms a tight sod Carex ﬂacca 'Blue Zinger' ( < ! 9 9 Sedge 9 that prevents weed establishment Excellent rain garden plant. Will form a Palm Sedge Carex muskingumensis ( < ! 9 9 sod in the bottom of the basin. 'Oehme' is a nice cultivar Tussok Sedge Carex stricta ( < 9 9 9 Spreads by rhizome

*** Pollinator = Here refers to plants that are pollinated by insects or birds.

www.rpbcwd.org 7 Rainwater Garden Master List Grasses and Grass-Like Plants The plants in this list have been approved for use in rainwater garden, bioswale, and other stormwater projects funded by Riley Purgatory Bluﬀ Creek Watershed District cost-share grants. The list includes information to help you chose the right plants for your project by describing plant preferences like sun and moisture needs. Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

A great plant for shade gardens. Can go Sprengel’s Sedge Carex spengelii ( < ! 9 9 9 summer dormant Lake Sedge Carex lacustris ( < ! 9 9 Spreads by rhizome Fox Sedge Carex vulpinoidea ( < 9 9 Tough rain garden plant Tolerates black walnuts and air Tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa ( < 9 9 pollution; Goldstaub is a good cultivar as are others Great shade tolerant grass. Many Japanese forest grass Hakonechloa macra < ! 9 9 nice cultivars Will produce seed; Tolerates drought, Sorghastrum nutans Indian Grass ( < 9 9 black walnuts and air pollution Tolerates wet soils; Good in the bottom Common Rush Juncus eﬀusus ( < 9 of a rain garden Purple moor grass Molinia caerulea cultivars ( < 9 9 Tolerates wet soil The native form spreads aggressively Switch Grass Panicum virginicum ( < 9 9 9 via seed, but the cultivars are well behaved and highly recommended 'Blue Heaven' is a prefered cultivar. ( 9 9 Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Native form spreads aggressively.

Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans ( 9 9 Aggressively spreads by seed

Spreads aggresively by roots; Great for Prairie Cordgrass Spartina pectinata ( < 9 9 the bottom of low maintenance rain gardens

Frost Grass Spodiopogon sibiricus ( < ! 9 9 Very tough grass; Non-invasive Beautiful low grass for the dry banks of Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis ( < 9 9 rain gardens. 'Tara' is an excellent cultivar

Feather reed grass ‘karl foerster’ Switch grass (Panicum virginicum) Lake Sedge (Carex lacustris) Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) (Calamagrostis x acutiﬂora ‘Karl Foerster)

*** Pollinator = Here refers to plants that are pollinated by insects or birds.

www.rpbcwd.org 8 Rainwater Garden Master List Shrubs The plants in this list have been approved for use in rainwater garden, bioswale, and other stormwater projects funded by Riley Purgatory Bluﬀ Creek Watershed District cost-share grants. The list includes information to help you chose the right plants for your project by describing plant preferences like sun and moisture needs. Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

Autumn Brilliance Amelanchier x grandiﬂora ( < 9 Beautiful tall shrub with year-round Serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance' interest

Fruit edible for birds and people. There are several native service berries Regent Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia ( < 9 9 9 species. All aregreat for landscapes as 'Regent' are thier cultivars Alleghany Serviceberry Amelanchier laevis ( < 9 9 Native to open woods Serviceberry Amelanchier spp. ( < 9 Spreads by rhizome Many nice Cultivars: 'Autumn Magic', Glossy Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa ( < 9 'Morton', 'Viking'

American New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus ( < 9 9 Best in sandy, well drained soil Beautiful blue fruit. Large and Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis ( < 9 9 sprawling form Sweetfern Comptonia peregrina ( < 9 9 Prefers well drained soil Best if trimmed back to 6" every ﬁve Variegated Dogwood Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' ( < 9 years

Pagoda Dogwood Cornus alternifolia ( < ! 9 May be considered a large tree. Prefers moist, organically rich soils in Cornus amomum ( < 9 Silky Dogwood 9 partial shade Forms and expanding mass; Good to Grey Dogwood Cornus racemosa ( < 9 9 cover large areas. ‘Muszam’ is a nice cultivar Roundleaf Dogwood Cornus rugosa < ! 9 9 Native to forest understories Good for the bottom of rain gardens; Best if cut back to 12" every 5 years for Redtwig dogwood Cornus stolonifera ( < 9 9 good winter interest. There are many excellent cultivars Edible, great for clay. Spreads ( < ! 9 9 American Hazelnut Corylus americana aggresively via rhizome

Excellent for massing at the upper Lowbush Honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera ( < ! 9 9 edges of a rain garden. Great in the shade.

Annebelle Hydrangea (Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’) Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica)

*** Pollinator = Here refers to plants that are pollinated by insects or birds.

www.rpbcwd.org 9 Rainwater Garden Master List Shrubs The plants in this list have been approved for use in rainwater garden, bioswale, and other stormwater projects funded by Riley Purgatory Bluﬀ Creek Watershed District cost-share grants. The list includes information to help you chose the right plants for your project by describing plant preferences like sun and moisture needs. Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

Witch Hazel Hamamelis virginiana ( < ! 9 9 Tall, fall blooming shrub Large flowers; Great winter interest; Annebelle Hydrangea Hydrangea 'Annabelle' ( < 9 Nice shrub for the upper edges of a rain garden Many nice cultivars: 'Blushing Bride', Bigleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla ( < ! 9 9 Light-O-Day, other cultivars Many nice cultivars: 'Little Lamb', Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata ( < 9 Quick Fire', Limelight' Plant the native form cultivars in the ( < ! 9 bottom of rain gardens; Must plant 'Red Winterberry 'Red Sprite' Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite' 9 Sprite' with the make 'Jim Dandy' at a 5:1 ratio to achieve fruiting Beautiful deep green foliage year round. Juniper chinensis 'Mint Julep' ( 9 Mint Julep Juniper Many other nice cultivars Low growing; Beautiful deep green Calgary Carpet Juniper Juniperus sabina 'Monna' ( < 9 foliage year round. Many other nice cultivars Spice Bush Lindera benzoin ( < ! 9 9 Heavy Shade, Clay Soil, Deer, Birds Mockorange species Philadelphus spp. ( < 9 Cultivars: 'Blizzard', 'Snowbelle', 'Aureus' Cultivars: 'Diabolo', 'Dart's Gold', Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius ( < 9 9 'Center Glow' Shrubby Cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa ( < 9 9 Rabbit, Deer, Drought, and Clay tolerant Spreads by rhizome to create a mass Chokecherry Prunus virginiana ( < ! 9 9 perfect for buffer zones Rhododendron Rhododendron spp. ( < 9 Prefers acidic soil; Cultivars: 'Aglo', 'PJM' Beautiful fall color; Becomes very large, Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica ( < 9 9 'Gro-Low' is a very drought tolerant dwarf cultivar Smooth sumac Rhus glabra ( < 9 9 Spreads by rhizome Spreads by rhizome; beautiful gold Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina ( < 9 9 foliage, 'Bailtiger' is a stunning cultivar with chartreuse foliage Rose, Carefree Beauty™ Rosa 'Bucbi' ( 9 9 Many other nice cultivars Rugosa Rose Rosa rugosa ( 9 Many nice cultivars Rose 'Nearly Wild" Rosa x 'Nearly Wild' ( < 9 Many other nice cultivars Drought tolerant; many other nice Rose 'Purple Pavement' Rosa x 'Purple Pavement' ( 9 cultivars Dwarf Blue Leaf Arctic Best if pruned down to 6" in early Salix purpurea 'Nana' ( 9 Willow 9 spring every year Good on clay. Supports birds and American Elder Sambucus canadensis ( < 9 9 9 butterflies. Spreads aggresively via seed Will grow well in the bottom of a rain Meadow Sweet Spiraea alba ( < 9 9 garden

*** Pollinator = Here refers to plants that are pollinated by insects or birds.

www.rpbcwd.org 10 Rainwater Garden Master List Shrubs The plants in this list have been approved for use in rainwater garden, bioswale, and other stormwater projects funded by Riley Purgatory Bluﬀ Creek Watershed District cost-share grants. The list includes information to help you chose the right plants for your project by describing plant preferences like sun and moisture needs. Exposure Soil / Moisture Common Name Scientiﬁc Name Notes Pollinator Full Sun Partial Sun Shade Wet Medium Dry Native Native Cultivar Non-Native Perennial

Very short; Good for the upper edge Little Princess Spirea Spiraea japonica ( 9 of a rain garden Spiraea japonica 'Gold Goldmound Spirea ( 9 9 Mound' Chartreuse foliage Spiraea nipponica Beautiful mound of white ﬂowers in Snowmound Spirea ( < 9 9 'Snowmound' spring Bridalwreath Spirea Spiraea prunifolia ( 9 9 Old fashioned tried and true Anthony Waterer Spirea Spiraea x bumalda ( 9 9 Will re-bloom if cut back Graceful arching branches when kept Grefsheim Spirea Spiraea x cinerea ( 9 9 unpruned Vanhoutte Spirea Spiraea x vanhouttei ( < 9 9 Large, tough shrub Spiraea x vanhouttei ( < 9 9 Dwarf Vanhoutte Spirea meyeriana Beautiful spring bloom White Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus ( < 9 9 9 Many nice cultivars Coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus ( < 9 Spreads to form an extensive colony Symphoricarpos x Coralberry Cultivars ( < ! 9 Winter dieback possible doorenbosii Dwarf Korean Lilac Syringa meyeri ( 9 9 Dwarf, mildew resistant, fragarant Syringa pubescens subsp. ( 9 Miss Kim Lilac patula 'Miss Kim' Crimson fall color Adapts to a wide range of soils including Snowberry Symphoricarpos alba ( < 9 poor soils

Common Purple Lilac & Syringa vulgaris ( < 9 9 Old fashioned tried and true Cultivars Tolerates a wide range of conditions; Yew Taxus x media ( < ! 9 9 Preferred cultifar: 'Taunton' White Cedar Thuja occidentalis ( < ! 9 9 9 Many great cultivars are available Protect from rabbits; prefers acidic Blueberry species Vaccinium spp. ( < 9 9 soil; Many nice cultivars Best cultivar: 'Christom' Blue Muﬃn, Viburnum Viburnum dentatum ( < 9 'Morton' , Many other good cultivars Wayfaring Bush Viburnum Viburnum lantana ( < 9 9 Good cultivar: 'Mohican' Easily grown in average, medium, well- Nannyberry Viburnum lentago ( < 9 drained soil in full sun to part shade

European Cranberrybush ( < 9 Cultivars: 'Roseum', 'Compactum', Viburnum & Cultivars Viburnum opulus 'Nanum' Blackhaw Viburnum Viburnum prunifolium ( < 9 9 Clusters of white ﬂowers in spring Downy Arrowwood Viburnum raﬁnesquianum < ! 9 9 Birds appreciate the fruit Preferred ciltivar: 'Wentworth' for best Highbush Cranberry Viburnum trilobum ( < 9 9 winter interest

*** Pollinator = Here refers to plants that are pollinated by insects or birds.